Kusan gondola kit

Yesterday, a KMT (Kris Model Trains) electric train kit for a Reading gondola arrived. Although clearly branded as KMT, the producing company is still listed as Kusan-Auburn in Nashville (TN). It was KMT # 0305:1.69. Although the kit is not dated, I think it should be from the early sixties of last century. A special advertisement was added for an "Atomic Train", which dates it before the seventies and makes it completely non-European.
The artwork of the box and of the instruction sheet is nice to see and hence I have added them. A memory of an old toy train brand and the cold war time gone by, when "atomic" was considered positive.
The gondola itself is fairly dirty and will need a wash. Especially the plastic wheels have picked up a thick layer of black stuff that will need to be removed. The scale of the gondola car is also surprising: it is larger than the underscaled 027 gondola's of Lionel, but also smaller than the zero scale gondola's of Lionel. Also interesting is the fact that the kit box is too small to accommodate the assembled gondola. So, that makes me double lucky to have find a complete gondola car with the original box and paperware.

Lionel 259T finished

Well it took me 2 slow years, but I got it done. The Lionel 259T tender is finished and it is time for a test ride with the 259E engine. The tender was purchased in October 2007 and when it arrived the corroded nature was obvious. Additionally, the handrails and two journal boxes missed. I completed the disassembly, rust removal and painting process already a year ago, but I struggled with the handrails. I wanted a freestyle restoration project with some self made handrails. Initially I choose brass 2-3 mm diameter brass pipes to solder these into the handrails. But they turned out to be too sturdy and nearly impossible to assemble correctly through both holes. I understood late that some flexibility would yield a better solution. It took a while before I saw the linchpins lying about at home and I got the idea. I drilled 1 mm holes through the linchpins head and stuck 1 mm pre-bended brass wire through it, soldered it and polished it. Well I am happy to have finished a pre-war car again. There are still too many neglected toy train cars waiting for some attention and care and I not sure yet which one will be next.

Decapped MTH PCC Streetcar

A decapped MTH PCC streetcar was available locally for a sweet price. Since, this is unusual for MTH engines in Europe, I could not resist. The former owner wanted the cap only, to make his own Dutch 2-rail PCC streetcar. I tested the beheaded streetcar and all functions performed as they should do (bing bing and a lot of street car drivers small talk). Perhaps the battery is a bit low, so I will replace it with a freshly charged 9V Nimh. What to do with it? Hmmm. I still have the All Nation trailer box car kit, so it could be an idea to make an interurban traction engine out of it. A C&LE Red devil would be nice, with the only mishap that it did not pull trailers. Well, I will spend some time on finding an nice looking interurban engine that is suited.

A few weeks ago a nice looking Weaver NYRX reefer arrived here. Unfortunately the 702 coupler was broken. The reefer could move freely in the Weaver box and probably during rough handling it smashed into the sides and broke its coupler. The seller said that it sends me a replacement coupler, well probably by boat mail, so I glued the coupler for the time being.

Additionally, I finished painting my first railroad house. At first it was intended as a cover for some electrics, I think it worked out great. And it is good to have something finished again.

TCA MG Club car 2009 and a roof finished

The TCA-MG club car was late in 2009. But it did arrive in the holiday season and here is it. It is a brown cattle car with nice detail. The doors can not be opened. But then again who wants steers running loose on the layout. The high resolution print details are remarkable and in general more then I can observe myself with my glasses.
During the last months I spend most of my time glueing slates on the roof of the house that I am scratch building. It was a tedious and rewarding process. In the summer we bought a binder with plastic clamp rings. Basically, you put a whole bunch of papers in, it perforates the papers and presses a plastic clamp through. Since, you do not have to feed the perforator with a clamp and it yields more then 20 pieces of paper of roughly 2 x 7 mm (about 1 x 3 milli-inch) it is an easy way of getting lots of roof slates in one stroke. I used fairly thick brown cardboard to get more 3D-structure in the roof and personally, I like the result. The house is one step further to completion. Now, I still have to get drainage pipes, a veranda roof and start painting. Yes, the roof will need a slate grey colour as well, but that is for later concern. Several visitors told me that they liked the result, but that I should better focus on other restoring the many railroad cars that are still waiting. Well, honestly, I liked this monk work. Not so much that I will ever turn into a rivet counter, but it yields a positive feeling reward. What else do we want in this "crisus".

Hoppers

This week a really nice "Golden loaf" flour hopper arrived. So, it is time for a test ride and a line up with all the other hoppers. This PS-2 Weaver hopper was available local and for some reason most European zero-scale modellers still do not appreciate the quality of Weaver cars, so I got it for a bargain. And because hoppers seldomly ride single, it is nice to have it here.
On the web, there is even a photo of the original hopper and although the original was shaped a bit differently, I do not mind Weaver to have improved the overall appearrance. Furthermore, this hopper was the Weaver club car of 2008. So without being an official member, the hopper is here to stay.

MTH Camelback running

This weekend I succeeded in making some good shots from the new MTH Camelback. Moreover, I also managed to blow the whistle button this time. In order to prevent the fire alarm from kicking in, the total time smoking was kept minimal, nevertheless it did smoke!

MTH Camelback

Today, a beautiful present arrived: a MTH Camelback engine with Protosound 1, #30-1142-1 from Reading railroad. Just look at it. Soon you will be able to hear its puffing and chuffing as well. The battery was a bit low, so the engine is now powered in neutral to charge itself and meanwhile it blows off steam. The green classification lights are lit as well.
Camelbacks are truely American hazardous steam engines, a unique design in many ways.
I choose this engine, since it very close to scale, has the protosound options that also function with European (230 V, 50 Hz) current, is a Reading engine and negociates the curves of 027 layout without issues.
The engine was purchased at Grzyboski trains. Just want to thank them for their service, charging realistic shipping costs and friendly assistance.

new additions

A few days ago some new Weaver Union Pacific cars joined my little layout. A crisp lettered boxcar with "bolster snubber springs" and a 40 foot tank car. The box car runs good on the 027 curves, the tank car required two spacer rings to elevate it a few millimeters and get it correctly through the 027 curves.

Weaver alco on 027 tracks

One of the last issues with the Weaver Alco engine running on 027 tracks was that it derailed the first car it pulls in a curve. To resolve this, I had to make a more flexible connection between the engine and the first car. As you can see, it works fine and the UP Alco has commenced its duties.

Lionel 1677

Today, a beautiful pre-war gondola arrived. It is the green Lionel 1677 that was produced from 1933-1935. A long lithographed car that was part of entry level start sets of that time. Some other cars of the same serie, like the 1679 Baby ruth box cars, the 1680 Sunoco and Shell tank cars and 1682 Caboose were much more common. The only exception is the truely rare 1678 Stock car of the same serie. Personally this green gondola is a outstanding beauty.

Alco running

Although the new FA-2 diesel engine doesnot have QSI, Protosound, Trainsound or whatever fancy hightech sound system, it does have an unique motor sound. Probably caused by the chain drive. Listen to the video and perhaps watch as well.

Weaver UP Alco #6540

About a month ago, I received a beautiful Weaver FA-2 Alco diesel engine in Union Pacific livery from Northern Saskatchewan. Although produced in 1990, the windows and horns were still not glued on yet. After it stood on the tracks and received some AC-current the lights lit up and the motor made a snorring sound, but the engine did not move.
After dissembling the hood, a missing gear wheel was directly appearent. After inspecting the box a small fragment of a plastic gear wheel was found.
Based on this fragment a new 8-teeth gear wheel from brass was made by drilling a center 4 mm hole. Then a circle was drawn on 3 mm distance of the hole with a ring and with high-school triangle 4 lines through the center and 45 degrees apart where drawn. On the eight positions where the circle crossed the line small 1.5 mm holes were drilled and afterwards the rough gear wheel was cut out of the brass plate. After sanding and soldering and sanding, the new gear wheel was mounted on the main drive rod, but unfortunately the motor did not run good. The chain tension was too high and consequently the torsion was too high.
In order to reduce the chain tension 1 mm was sanded from the plastic positioning plate for both main drive rods. The mounting holes for this plate were enlarged and after re-assembly the chain could move much more easily. The a special spacer was made from a K&S brass pipe of 4 mm internal diameter and 3 mm width. This helped to position the upper gear wheel precisly over the bottom gear wheel.
Now it finely runs! I must acknowledge my local Lionel train friend for giving me the repair suggestions that proved to be the right ones. The engine runs on my 027 layout, but does not like the Lionel 027 switches, because it touches the switch-house with the lower middle hood when it runs over the curved track of the switch. Furthermore, the couplers can not remain centered on 027 track, meaning that they will derail the first car connected in a 027 curve. This can be circumvented with a elastic rubber band over the open couplers, but it is not nice. What is nice of this engine is complete skirt: and not two single parts where the light shine through.

P&LE Boxcar

A beautiful Weaver PS-1 boxcar has joined us. It is a jade green NYC system Pittsburgh and Lake Erie boxcar made in a special run for P&D hobby. The doors can slide open, but sufficient force needs to applied to get them moving. A well-detailled little treasure train car that emerged locally. What a small fortune indeed. This boxcar was already suited for 3-rail operation and hence does not need to be converted to the right amount of rails.

Planting trees

One of the key difficulties of a layout on a folding table is how to deal with adding scenery, especially houses, mountains and trees. Today some detachable trees were planted on the layout, which can be easily unrooted and replanted when necessary. Small threads will keep the trees connected to their trunks while the table is in a upright folded position.

Long trains run by

This weekend we played with the trains and made some large consists and saw how the MTH switcher pulled it easily.
The house / crossing bell cover is progressing slowly as well, made some windows and doors. At last I got a new toy to play with: a sandblaster. So, I had to try it on an old pre-war passenger car. The first blast was not bad. Only thing left to do is to clean the garden, because everwhere lies fine white sand... Next time better and perhaps also smarter.

Reynolds Railroad Products

This weekend I found two old US 0 scale cars of a brand that is unknown to me "Reynolds railroad products - Athearn 0 scale kits" at a local second-hand trainshop named Wentink Occasions. One is a #0105 40' Refrigerator car of the Pacific Fruit Express and Union Pacific- South Pacific railroads. This reefer probably originates from 1946, because it states blt. 9-46 on the side. This car is full metal on the outside. The interior of the car is from wood and the exterior is metal plate. The tin plate strips start to rust a bit but the large metal plates shine like mirrors. It is a true beauty!
The other is #0302 40' UP box car. This box car has a plastic side panel, metal roof and front and back end. This box car probably was made in 1956, since it blt 3-56 is marked on the side of the car.
These cars are really nice. Obviously they are intended for 2-rail, but that is easily fixed with some Weaver replacement trucks and couplers. Another issue is that are from the wrong Western railroads, but I can not be to picky on what I find locally. They are rather heavy and the shiny metal really gives the cars a nice appearance. Some of the tin-plate strips are starting to rust, but that can be considered as natural weathering.

Modelspoorbeurs Houten

Today, was a large toy train convention in Houten. About 90% of the toy trains offered were in half zero and N, but a few nice O scale toy trains were spotted. Most of the toy trains in zero were Märklin, Horby and JEP, but also Lionel was present. The small wagons of 0 scale models were really well done. The trouble is they do not really fit with American toy trains with cow catchers and claw couplers.

Anything in scale zero is getting an extra zero in the price at such a convention, so it is nice to look around. I would recommend Ebay for those interested in buying and not being ripped off. For example, a simple 657 caboose is price tagged at 40 Euro (about 50 USD), well you buy about ten of those for this price in the US. It was nice to see Lionel being displayed as exotic, though. One of the highlights was a small wind-up Hafner engine, with a battery lid front light and a bell underneath. With a red boiler front and a red tender.

Well, it was cold day, so well-suited for a toy train fair. I took some pictures of offerings in scale zero I spotted.

Lionel versus MTH

Today was a fine day to run trains and to compare my MTH SW 1500 switcher with my Lionel SD 28 diesel engine. First of all, some pulling tests. The MTH won with pulling heavy loads by far, the SD 28 just spun its wheels when the consist became long and heavy.
Then I placed both on a separate circle with some nice cars and fed with exact the same amount of electricity. The SD-28 starts running a very low voltage, when the SW 1500 is still full idle and when the SW 1500 finally gets the hang of it, the SD 28 almost derails because of speeding. Clearly very different engines with very different voltage-speed responses.

By the way, if you look carefully you will see the new TCA-MG 40' flat cars riding by. Especially these need some extra force to pull them through bends. The switcher has no problem what so ever with them, the SD 28 almost stops on them.

Well it is clear the MTH switcher won.

Hopper time

A colourful PS-2 Hopper joined us and it came in beautiful old cardboard box. It is just nice to enjoy this 'out-dated' design. I am not sure but it looks seventish to me.

TCA-MG Club car #2

This week the 2008 TCA-MG club cars arrived and they are handsome indeed. The designers chose for the new 40' flat cars of Weaver with wooden crates on top. The details of the wooden crates, the dull grey colour of the weathered planks and the details on the flat itself (stake holders, steps, texts) are well done. The crates apparently contain Electrical components from the Electrical Generator Company in Windfall WV. According to the text they are heavy and should not be lifted with hooks. Surprising content.

The flats run smoothly on straight rails but were obviously not designed for my 027 curves. The wheels do then touch the central beam under the flat and this results in friction. The flats do not derail as my 50' flat does in 027 curves, but they are merely slowed down.

Progress on the layout

The MTH Z controller is in. It requires an input current of 20 Volt AC, 100 Watt with a maximum current of 6 Ampère. So, first I tried using a conventional Märklin transformer as power source, but it only generates 18 Volt AC, 32 Watt and in consequence my engine only drove very slowly.

So, I started looking for 20 Volt pre-transformer and I soon noticed that 18 V and 24 V are standards, but 20V ain't. But fortunately, Thanks to Techno Center Schmitt in Lünen (D), I have found myself a nice second-hand transformer that is fit for the job. It convert regular European 230 VAC into 20.7 Volt AC, 130 Watt and my MTH engine runs again fast at the end of the throttle.

Here is a small video to show how smooth the SW1500 switcher runs with the new power source. As can be seen, a house is under construction. This house is intended as crossing bell cover. The bell is not fully optimised, yet, but you can here it ring when the train crosses. I used a second-hand CKD 24 VAC disco-ball electromotor from Hobbieplaza which rotates with 30 rpm a mill with bolts to touch an old bike-bell found along the road. For C2C junks: "A road-side litter thingie upcycled to a trashure toy".